Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Christopher Downing, M.D.
MOHS-Micrographic Surgery Physician · Houston, TX
Practice pattern: Clinical Cardiology
— Primarily office-based clinical cardiology
Low-engagement
Very High
DATA COVERAGE
Data in 4 of 4 federal sources
Measures public federal data availability — not provider quality
Informational, not a quality rating.
This page presents federal public records about Dr. Downing from CMS (NPPES, Open Payments, Medicare Provider Utilization, PECOS). It is not medical advice, an endorsement, or a judgment of clinical quality. Always consult the provider directly and a licensed clinician for medical decisions. Read methodology →
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What this data tells you about Dr. Downing
Dr. Christopher Downing is a mohs-micrographic surgery physician in Houston, TX, with 13 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Downing performed 3,478 Medicare services across 1,929 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Downing received a total of $7,737 from 40 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 419 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in mohs-micrographic surgery physician. Most payments are for meals and travel — low-value interactions common across virtually all practicing physicians. Patients may wish to discuss these relationships with their provider.
The Data Coverage level for Dr. Downing is Very High — reflecting how much public federal data is available about this provider. This is not a quality rating. Patients are encouraged to use this data as one of several factors when choosing a healthcare provider.
✓ 13 years in practice
▲ Top 29% volume in TX
$7,737 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗3,478
Medicare services
Top 29% in TX for mohs-micrographic surgery physician
1,929
Unique beneficiaries
$183
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · Not a quality rating · How to read this →
~268 Medicare services per year of practice
Top procedures by volume
Ranked by number of services performed for Medicare patients. Avg. submitted charge is what the provider billed; avg. Medicare payment is what CMS paid.
| Procedure | Volume | Avg. paid | Avg. submitted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Office visit, established patient (20-29 min) An office visit for an existing patient lasting between 20 and 29 minutes. The visit involves medical evaluation and management of the patient's condition. |
370 | $70 | $186 |
| Relese, per square centimeter | 354 | $457 | $888 |
| Additional skin growth biopsy Removal of a sample of an additional skin growth for laboratory examination. This code is used for each extra lesion biopsied during the same session. |
345 | $41 | $104 |
| Skin biopsy, tangential A procedure to remove a sample of the first identified skin growth for laboratory examination. |
335 | $65 | $210 |
| Skin growth removal and lab exam, 1-5 blocks This procedure involves the removal of a growth from the head, neck, hands, feet, or genitals. The removed tissue is then examined under a microscope in the laboratory. |
292 | $484 | $1,408 |
| Removal and microscopic exam of growth of head, neck, hands, feet, or genitals, each additional stage, 1-5 tissue blocks | 234 | $333 | $854 |
| New patient office visit (30-44 min) An initial office visit for a new patient lasting between 30 and 44 minutes. This code is used when the total time spent on the date of the encounter falls within this range. |
215 | $77 | $231 |
| Destruction of precancerous skin growths, 2-14 This procedure involves the removal or destruction of two to fourteen precancerous skin lesions. It is performed to eliminate abnormal skin cells that have the potential to develop into cancer. |
187 | $5 | $14 |
| Destruction of skin growths (warts/lesions), 1-14 This procedure involves the removal or destruction of one to fourteen skin growths. It is a minor surgical intervention performed on the skin surface. |
179 | $89 | $235 |
| Office visit, established patient (30-39 min) A follow-up office visit for an existing patient lasting between 30 and 39 minutes. The visit involves medical evaluation and management of the patient's condition. |
151 | $96 | $263 |
| Destruction of precancerous skin growth, 1 Removal of a single precancerous skin growth. This procedure destroys abnormal skin cells to prevent them from developing into cancer. |
146 | $37 | $139 |
| Complicated wound repair, 2.6-7.5 cm A complex surgical procedure to close a wound measuring between 2.6 and 7.5 centimeters on areas such as the face, neck, hands, or feet. |
118 | $194 | $982 |
| Complicated wound repair, scalp/arms/legs, 2.6-7.5 cm A complex surgical procedure to close a wound on the scalp, arms, or legs that measures between 2.6 and 7.5 centimeters in length. |
77 | $249 | $886 |
| New patient office visit (45-59 min) An initial office visit for a new patient lasting between 45 and 59 minutes. This code covers the total time spent by the physician or qualified healthcare professional on the date of the encounter. |
70 | $110 | $343 |
| Skin growth removal and lab exam, 1-5 blocks A procedure to remove a growth from the trunk, arms, or legs and send 1 to 5 tissue samples to a laboratory for microscopic examination. |
48 | $501 | $1,321 |
| Skin graft, each additional 30 sq cm This procedure involves transferring skin to repair a wound. The code applies to each additional 30 square centimeters of skin graft used beyond the initial amount. |
46 | $177 | $449 |
| Steroid injection (triamcinolone) A 10 mg injection of triamcinolone acetonide, a corticosteroid medication. This code specifies the drug and dosage administered. |
38 | $1 | $5 |
| Ear tissue biopsy A procedure to remove a small sample of tissue from the ear for laboratory examination. |
37 | $43 | $201 |
| Surgical removal of skin cancer, 1.1-2.0 cm Surgical excision of a cancerous skin growth measuring between 1.1 and 2.0 centimeters on the body, arms, or legs. |
35 | $96 | $508 |
| Injection into skin growths, 1-7 A procedure involving the injection of medication into one to seven skin growths. |
31 | $36 | $118 |
| Complicated wound repair of trunk, 2.6-7.5 cm A surgical procedure to close a complex wound on the trunk that measures between 2.6 and 7.5 centimeters in length. |
30 | $229 | $827 |
| Complex repair of eyelid, nose, ear, or lip wound, 2.6-7.5 cm A surgical procedure to repair a complex wound on the eyelid, nose, ear, or lip that measures between 2.6 and 7.5 centimeters. |
25 | $204 | $1,034 |
| Skin substitute graft application, 25 sq cm or less Application of a skin substitute graft to a wound on the face, scalp, eyelids, mouth, neck, ears, around eyes, genitals, hands, feet, fingers, or toes. The wound area covered is 25.0 square centimeters or less. |
24 | $95 | $329 |
| Skin graft repair, 30.1-60.0 sq cm A surgical procedure to repair a wound by transferring skin from one area to another. This code applies to grafts covering an area between 30.1 and 60.0 square centimeters. |
21 | $858 | $2,260 |
| Additional Mohs surgery stage with microscopic exam This procedure involves the removal and microscopic examination of an additional stage of tissue from the trunk, arms, or legs. It is performed in stages to ensure complete removal of the growth. |
18 | $323 | $818 |
| Complicated wound repair, each additional 5 cm or less This code covers the additional work for a complex surgical repair of a wound on the scalp, arms, or legs when the repair extends beyond the initial measurement. It is billed for each incremental 5-centimeter segment added to the primary procedure. |
14 | $105 | $266 |
| Skin graft repair of eyelid, nose, ear, or lip, 10.1-30 sq cm This procedure involves repairing a wound on the eyelid, nose, ear, or lip by transferring skin from another area. The graft size covered is between 10.1 and 30.0 square centimeters. |
14 | $785 | $2,065 |
| Intermediate wound repair, 2.6-7.5 cm A medical procedure to close a wound on the scalp, underarms, trunk, arms, or legs that measures between 2.6 and 7.5 centimeters. This type of repair involves cleaning the wound and stitching it closed to promote healing. |
13 | $230 | $633 |
| Removal of noncancer skin growth, 1.1-2.0 cm This procedure involves the surgical removal of a benign skin growth located on the body, arms, or legs. The growth measured between 1.1 and 2.0 centimeters in diameter. |
11 | $71 | $358 |
How to read this data: This reflects Medicare patients only (typically 65+). Payment amounts are what Medicare paid the provider, not your out-of-pocket cost. A higher procedure volume generally indicates more experience with that procedure.
0.5% high complexity
22.6% medium
76.9% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$7,737
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $1,105/year across 7 years
Top 21% in TX for mohs-micrographic surgery physician
40
Companies
419
Individual payments
All payments are legal and publicly reported · Not evidence of wrongdoing · How to interpret →
Payment profile
Industry payments classified by relationship type. Not all payments are equal — research and consulting reflect different relationships than speaking programs or meals.
Meals & Travel
Food, beverages, travel, and lodging — typically low-value
$7,665 (99.1%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$72 (0.9%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$421
2023
$1,773
2022
$496
2021
$497
2020
$787
2019
$2,392
2018
$1,370
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Amgen Inc.
$802
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$675
Galderma Laboratories, L.P.
$631
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$628
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Inc.
$554
AbbVie, Inc.
$546
Lilly USA, LLC
$517
Janssen Biotech, Inc.
$368
AbbVie Inc.
$312
Encore Dermatology Inc.
$279
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$274
Celgene Corporation
$229
Dermavant Sciences, Inc.
$225
Ortho Dermatologics, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC
$205
GENZYME CORPORATION
$162
Incyte Corporation
$150
Almirall LLC
$138
PFIZER INC.
$126
ABBVIE INC.
$125
SUN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES INC.
$84
STRATA Skin Sciences, Inc.
$73
Bioventus LLC
$68
UCB, Inc.
$63
Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$62
LEO Pharma Inc.
$54
MEDLINE INDUSTRIES LP
$49
ConvaTec Inc.
$41
VYNE Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$40
Mayne Pharma Inc.
$33
Hill Dermaceuticals, Inc.
$32
Mission Pharmacal Company
$29
MERZ NORTH AMERICA, INC.
$26
MAYNE PHARMA INC.
$21
EPI Health, LLC
$21
Kerecis Limited
$19
DERMIRA, INC.
$18
MIMEDX Group, Inc.
$18
Genentech USA, Inc.
$16
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation
$11
Journey Medical Corporation
$11
Top 3 companies account for 27.2% of total payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ABSORICA · ABSORICA (isotretinoin) · ABSORICA LD · ADBRY · AKLIEF · ALTRENO · AMZEEQ · ARAZLO · Absorica LD · Aczone · Avar · BRYHALI · Bensal HP · COSENTYX · Ceracade · Cimzia · Clindamycin Phosphate and Benzoyl Peroxide · DORYX · DUOBRII · DUPIXENT · DUPIXENT DUPILUMAB INJECTION · Dermatological Psoriasis and Vitiligo Treatment · ENSTILAR · EPIDUO FORTE · EUCRISA · Enbrel · Erivedge · HUMIRA · Humira · ILUMYA · ILUMYA (tildrakizumab-asmn) injection · INC. · INNOVAMATRIX AC · Ilumya · Impoyz · JUBLIA · Kerecis Omega3 SurgiClose · LIBTAYO · MEDLINE INDUSTRIES · OLUMIANT · ONEXTON · OPZELURA · ORACEA · Odomzo · Olux · Otezla · Ovace · PICATO · QBREXZA · REMICADE · RETIN-A-MICRO · RINVOQ · SILIQ · SIVEXTRO · SKYRIZI · SOOLANTRA · Seysara · Skyrizi · Sotyktu · TALTZ · TREMFYA · TRI-LUMA · TRILUMA · Tolak · Tremfya · VTAMA · Veltin · Winlevi · XTRAC
Should you be concerned? Payments from pharmaceutical and device companies are legal and common — 57% of U.S. physicians receive at least one. They often reflect legitimate consulting, research, or education. What matters is whether a recommended drug or device appears in your doctor's payment records. If so, consider asking your doctor about it. How to interpret this data →
Most payments (99%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians.
Equivalent to $222 per 100 Medicare services performed
Geographic Context
Mohs-micrographic surgery physicians within 10 mi
14
Per 100K population
0.3
County median income
$73,104
Nearest hospital
HOUSTON METHODIST WILLOWBROOK HOSPITAL
4.1 mi
4.1 mi
Data Sources
| Provider Registry | ✓ NPPES | Weekly updates |
| Medicare Enrollment | ✓ PECOS | Monthly updates |
| Practice Data | ✓ Medicare Util. | Annual (CY lag) |
| Industry Payments | ✓ Open Payments | CY 2024 |
| Disciplinary History | — Not public | N/A |
This provider has data in 4 of 4 available federal datasets, with a Data Coverage level of Very High. This measures how much public data is available about a provider — not how good they are. How we calculate this →
Summary
Dr. Downing is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 29% in TX), with low-engagement industry engagement.
This summary is auto-generated from federal data. It describes data availability and patterns — not clinical quality. Read our methodology →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dr. Downing experienced with office visit, established patient (20-29 min)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Downing performed 370 office visit, established patient (20-29 min) services. Research suggests that higher procedure volume is often associated with better outcomes, particularly for complex procedures. Note that Medicare data only captures patients aged 65 and older, so the total practice volume across all patients is likely higher.
Does Dr. Downing receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Downing received a total of $7,737 from 40 companies across 419 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common among physicians — 57% of all U.S. physicians receive at least one industry payment. Patients may wish to ask their doctor about these relationships, especially if a recommended drug or device appears in the payment records.
How do Dr. Downing's costs compare to other mohs-micrographic surgery physicians in Houston?
Dr. Downing's average Medicare payment per service is $183. Note that these figures represent what Medicare pays, not your out-of-pocket cost, which depends on your specific insurance plan and deductible. Procedure-level data above shows both what was submitted and what Medicare paid for each service type.
What does Data Coverage mean?
Data Coverage (currently Very High for Dr. Downing) measures how much public federal data is available about a provider. It is not a quality rating. A "Very High" or "High" level means the provider has data across multiple federal sources (NPPES, PECOS, Medicare Utilization, Open Payments), indicating a long track record of practice, Medicare participation, and industry disclosure. A "Low" or "Moderate" level may simply mean the provider is newer, does not see Medicare patients, or has not received any industry payments — none of which are inherently negative. Read our full methodology →
Is this data up to date?
Each data source has its own update cycle. Provider registry data (NPPES) is updated weekly. Medicare enrollment (PECOS) is updated monthly. Medicare practice data has a ~2 year lag — the most recent available is typically 2 years prior. Industry payment data (Open Payments) is published annually, usually in June, covering the prior calendar year. We display the data date prominently on each section so you always know how current it is. See our data freshness policy →
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About this page
All data on this page is sourced verbatim from public federal records published by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS): NPPES ↗, Open Payments ↗, Medicare Provider Utilization ↗, and PECOS. Publication is mandated by the Physician Payments Sunshine Act (§6002 ACA, 42 U.S.C. §1320a-7h) and the Freedom of Information Act.
This page is not medical advice, an endorsement, a recommendation, or a quality rating. The Transparency Score measures data completeness — how much federal information exists for this provider — not clinical performance, patient outcomes, or quality of care. Always verify information directly with the provider and consult a licensed clinician before making medical decisions.
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